[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of
East Cocalico 11-21-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-08.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Nuisances — See Ch. 141.
The following words as described in this chapter shall have the following
meanings:
Any natural person, partnership, association, firm, or corporation.
Township of East Cocalico.
Any Canadian or Russian thistle, chicory, burdock, nettle, poison
ivy, sumac, goldenrod, wild lettuce, wild mustard, wild parsley, ragweed,
milkweed, or any other plant or vegetation whatsoever not edible or planted
for an ornamental or agricultural purpose.
Every person, owning or occupying any premises within the Township,
upon which premises any grass or weeds in excess of six inches in height are
growing, shall cut or remove such grass or weeds or cause the same to be cut
or removed on or before May 1, June 1, July, 1, August 1, September 1, and
October 1 of each calendar year.
[Amended 1-17-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-01]
Exceptions to the requirements of the chapter are the following: trees,
whether coniferous or deciduous; shrubs; flower beds or gardens; vegetables;
wildflower gardens; seasonal and ornamental grasses; wetlands; woodlands and
forested areas; areas within 15 feet of a stream or pond; areas within required
riparian buffers; and land actively cultivated in crop production or engaged
in farming or animal husbandry including, but not limited to, growing grain
in excess of six inches which will be cut and harvested for hay or other agricultural
purposes.
The Zoning Officer or Assistant Zoning Officer, upon ascertaining that
grass or weeds are growing in violation of this chapter, shall give written
notice by first-class mail or certified mail, return receipt requested, to
the owner or occupant of the premises whereon such grass and weeds are in
violation of the provisions of this chapter, and shall direct the owner or
occupant to cut or remove all such grass or weeds so as to conform to the
requirements of this chapter within seven days. When the notice has been forwarded
to the owner or occupant of the premises, in accordance with this section,
such notice shall be deemed to be sufficient notice that the owner or occupant
is in violation of this chapter. Thereafter, in the event that the owner or
occupant of the premises fails to comply with this chapter and allows grass
or weeds in excess of six inches in height, the Township may bring an appropriate
action before the Magisterial District Judge for a violation of this chapter
without any further notices being mailed by the Zoning Officer or Assistant
Zoning Officer.
[Amended 2-7-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-02]
In case any person shall neglect, fail, or refuse to comply with such
notice within the period of time stated therein, the Township may cause such
grass or weeds to be removed or cut, and the costs thereof, together with
any penalty authorized by law, may be collected from such person in the manner
provided by law.
[Amended 2-7-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-02]
Any person who shall fail, neglect, or refuse to comply with any of
the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding
brought before a Magisterial District Judge under the Pennsylvania Rules of
Criminal Procedure, be guilty of a summary offense and shall be punishable
by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000, plus costs of prosecution.
In default of payment thereof, the defendant may be sentenced to imprisonment
for a term not exceeding 90 days. Each day or portion thereof that such violation
continues or is permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense,
and each section of this chapter that is violated shall also constitute a
separate offense.
